University of Alabama President Stuart Bell says he plans to add a central diversity officer to campus. The new position is part of an effort to ensure a welcoming and inclusive campus for students of all backgrounds.

Bell released a statement Wednesday saying he's asked the school's Strategic Planning Council to identify a diversity officer and develop a new campus diversity plan.

Bell says the university's provost and vice president for student affairs have also been asked to review the school's current initiatives and ensure they're accessible throughout campus.

The Alabama Democratic Conference has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith for governor and incumbent Terry Sewell for re-election to Congress.

ADC Chairman Joe Reed said the black wing of the state Democratic Party met in Montgomery to screen candidates and make endorsements. He said the ADC's screening committee recommended Griffith over Kevin Bass because of his support for expanding Medicaid, raising the minimum wage and making sure that tax dollars for schools are spent on public education.

Most of the Democrats seeking the top offices in Alabama are scheduled to be in Huntsville for a political event Thursday. The event is being called "Hot Dogs and Yellow Dogs." Organizer and host Pam Miles says it will include gubernatorial candidates Parker Griffith and Kevin Bass, lieutenant governor candidate James Fields, attorney general candidate Joe Hubbard, state auditor candidate Miranda Joseph, and agriculture commissioner candidate Doug Smith. They are seeking offices currently held by Republicans. A dozen legislative candidates are also scheduled to attend the event Thursday.

Secretary of State Jim Bennett said two Democratic candidates in the 1st Congressional District will be included on the special election ballot even though the Alabama Democratic Party missed a deadline to turn in their names by one hour.

Democrats are organizing multiple training sessions in Alabama to try to reinvigorate a party that has fallen to minority status in state government.

A new organization, the Alabama Democratic Majority, has announced a "grassroots convention" Aug. 3 in Birmingham. Executive Director Bradley Davidson says it will cover everything from registering voters to helping voters comply with Alabama's new law requiring a photo ID to vote.

The party has its headquarters near the Capitol in Montgomery. But party Chairman Mark Kennedy says it will have a field office in downtown Birmingham next to the Harbert Center. Kennedy plans to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon with Birmingham Mayor William Bell and the party's Jefferson County chairman, Richard Mauk.

Jefferson County and Montgomery County were two areas where the party did well in the November election.

The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee will conduct interviews in Montgomery for persons interested in being recommended for appointment to a position in the Obama administration's second term.

Alabama Democratic Party executive director Bradley Davidson said party officials will be making recommendations to the Obama administration of people to serve in federal positions in Alabama for the next four years. Davidson said party officials plan to make recommendations to the president by the time he is sworn-in for his next term.